Post by pdj354 on Jun 18, 2014 10:39:00 GMT
See the full RYA article her - www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/GetBackIntoSailingatChelmarshSC2014.aspx
'Get Back Into Sailing' at Chelmarsh SC
Bridgnorth club running new sessions for people re-discovering sailing
Are you someone who used to sail as a youngster before real life took over, or are you new to the area and looking for somewhere to rediscover your love of life on the water? ‘Get Back Into Sailing’ at Chelmarsh Sailing Club could be just the answer you’re looking for!
The new programme at the club, near Bridgnorth, gets underway with a FREE session on Saturday 5 July and then continues every week until Saturday 20 September.
But that isn’t all - anyone coming along to the ‘Get Back Into Sailing’ sessions will be encouraged to embrace all the other opportunities Chelmarsh SC offers, including high quality club racing, further tuition to improve skills across many different areas of sailing, and the fantastic social side of being involved in a friendly, welcoming club.
After a 30 year break, Phil Griffin, 56, rediscovered his passion for sailing in 2011 after being inspired to get back on the water on family holidays to Anglesey.
Needing somewhere to keep the second-hand 470 dinghy he bought, he discovered Chelmarsh SC, and not only does Phil now race regularly, he volunteers for working parties and has enrolled on an RYA Dinghy Instructors course too.
His 17-year-old daughter, Anna, is about to become the latest family member to do a learn-to-sail course at Chelmarsh.
Phil said: “My father loved sailing and I crewed for him until I was 21. But I never owned my own boat, and after getting engaged and buying a house that needed work, I never really thought about sailing as something I wanted to do in my own right. I don’t believe I appreciated what sailing gave me at that time.
“On a first visit to Chelmarsh, to enquire about joining, it was great to be greeted by such friendly people. A boat space was sorted very quickly and advice came thick and fast, together with cast off bits and pieces to get all the controls in the boat working again.
“I quickly got back into racing. It’s impossible to race and not learn something new. I’ve now found an escape, something so wholly consuming that when the signal has sounded for the first race all else is put aside until climbing into the car after the debrief in the bar of probably one of the best clubhouses in the country.
“Getting back into sailing is probably the best thing I’ve done for myself in the last 20 years and I’m hoping that giving my children the opportunity to learn to sail will help them keep the stresses of life in balance. To be transported on to shimmering water on a beautiful, breezy day from the toils of daily life, with all to play for, is just great.”
Peter Wilson, Training Principle at Chelmarsh SC, added: “Sailing is a sport that really can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. You are never too old to sail, as it can be as vigorous or sedate as you wish, while it is also a great leveller physically too.
“We often find mums or dads who have sailed as youngsters, and may have dropped out of the sport in their late teens / early twenties, then come back to the sport as a family. Likewise we get a lot of individuals discovering or coming back to the sport when they are settled in their careers or retired and have leisure time.
"These sessions are about giving people the chance to get back on the water and then support them in following whatever path they wish in the sport.”
Chelmarsh’s ‘Get Back Into Sailing’ programme is part of the nationwide RYA Go Sailing initiative. Chelmarsh’s Go Sailing programme this year includes Ladies Wot Launch and ‘Better Sailing’ sessions working to improve specific skills, while every Saturday afternoon is 'open sailing', with safety boat cover, to just get on the water and practice, practice, practice!
For more information about everything going on at Chelmarsh SC, and how you can get involved, visit www.chelmarshsailing.org.uk of follow the club on Twitter at @chelmarshsc
'Get Back Into Sailing' at Chelmarsh SC
Bridgnorth club running new sessions for people re-discovering sailing
Are you someone who used to sail as a youngster before real life took over, or are you new to the area and looking for somewhere to rediscover your love of life on the water? ‘Get Back Into Sailing’ at Chelmarsh Sailing Club could be just the answer you’re looking for!
The new programme at the club, near Bridgnorth, gets underway with a FREE session on Saturday 5 July and then continues every week until Saturday 20 September.
But that isn’t all - anyone coming along to the ‘Get Back Into Sailing’ sessions will be encouraged to embrace all the other opportunities Chelmarsh SC offers, including high quality club racing, further tuition to improve skills across many different areas of sailing, and the fantastic social side of being involved in a friendly, welcoming club.
After a 30 year break, Phil Griffin, 56, rediscovered his passion for sailing in 2011 after being inspired to get back on the water on family holidays to Anglesey.
Needing somewhere to keep the second-hand 470 dinghy he bought, he discovered Chelmarsh SC, and not only does Phil now race regularly, he volunteers for working parties and has enrolled on an RYA Dinghy Instructors course too.
His 17-year-old daughter, Anna, is about to become the latest family member to do a learn-to-sail course at Chelmarsh.
Phil said: “My father loved sailing and I crewed for him until I was 21. But I never owned my own boat, and after getting engaged and buying a house that needed work, I never really thought about sailing as something I wanted to do in my own right. I don’t believe I appreciated what sailing gave me at that time.
“On a first visit to Chelmarsh, to enquire about joining, it was great to be greeted by such friendly people. A boat space was sorted very quickly and advice came thick and fast, together with cast off bits and pieces to get all the controls in the boat working again.
“I quickly got back into racing. It’s impossible to race and not learn something new. I’ve now found an escape, something so wholly consuming that when the signal has sounded for the first race all else is put aside until climbing into the car after the debrief in the bar of probably one of the best clubhouses in the country.
“Getting back into sailing is probably the best thing I’ve done for myself in the last 20 years and I’m hoping that giving my children the opportunity to learn to sail will help them keep the stresses of life in balance. To be transported on to shimmering water on a beautiful, breezy day from the toils of daily life, with all to play for, is just great.”
Peter Wilson, Training Principle at Chelmarsh SC, added: “Sailing is a sport that really can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. You are never too old to sail, as it can be as vigorous or sedate as you wish, while it is also a great leveller physically too.
“We often find mums or dads who have sailed as youngsters, and may have dropped out of the sport in their late teens / early twenties, then come back to the sport as a family. Likewise we get a lot of individuals discovering or coming back to the sport when they are settled in their careers or retired and have leisure time.
"These sessions are about giving people the chance to get back on the water and then support them in following whatever path they wish in the sport.”
Chelmarsh’s ‘Get Back Into Sailing’ programme is part of the nationwide RYA Go Sailing initiative. Chelmarsh’s Go Sailing programme this year includes Ladies Wot Launch and ‘Better Sailing’ sessions working to improve specific skills, while every Saturday afternoon is 'open sailing', with safety boat cover, to just get on the water and practice, practice, practice!
For more information about everything going on at Chelmarsh SC, and how you can get involved, visit www.chelmarshsailing.org.uk of follow the club on Twitter at @chelmarshsc